Comments on: Where Have All The Pencils Gone? 29 Tips for Classroom Pencil Management

By: Bonnie Hoy

Bonnie Hoy — Thu, 24 May 2018 20:10:14 +0000

In California, we are not allowed to charge students money for ANYTHING, not even a quarter for a pencil. A teacher had students leave a dime for a pencil (which she had bought with her own money) and was told by admin that she couldn’t dot that. We have no field trips because we cannot charge for a bus ride. Yeah, it sucks.

By: Amber

Amber — Tue, 15 May 2018 05:20:20 +0000

I taught prescchool and never had to worry bout it the center supplied everything.. and the older kids in the after school class sharpened all the pencils and colored pencils for us at teh assking.. I am now finishing up classes to teach elementary grades and I am browsing to get ideas.. I do however personally use the “fat” pencils and may chooser to use them in the classroom as well but around here all the grade supply lists are the same and they all use the Taraconda ( how ever it is spelled) pencils.. but we will see when I start in my own room

By: Jeni

Jeni — Mon, 15 Jan 2018 16:48:01 +0000

I teach the “Cause I Ain’t Got a Pencil” kids. We just give them a pencil. It’s infuriating when they’re never sharpened or disappear or get left all over the place. But I moved past putting all my energy into it.

By: Kristi

Kristi — Sun, 04 Jun 2017 14:39:49 +0000

I teach 4 different classes of 5th grade math throughout the day. I am wanting to do something different with the pencil issue. I am going to try something with my homeroom students and I am pretty sure it will work. My question is, how do I get the other 3 classes to be prepared when they arrive in my class throughout the day? We spend several minutes at the beginning of the period sharpening pencils. The other teachers don’t seem to mind losing out on class time to do this. It just drives me crazy! Any suggestions are appreciated!!

By: Stacy

Stacy — Sun, 05 Mar 2017 00:48:58 +0000

In reply to Kristin. I tried pens this week. No sharpening yea! but my 6th graders need to take them apart and chew on ends! I am at my whits end also.

By: Diane Villagomez

Diane Villagomez — Sun, 22 Jan 2017 19:57:18 +0000

I teach 6th grade math and the pencil issue drives me crazy…not having them, needing to sharpen them, etc. At the moment (because I just got tired of it all, but my school supplies pencils to teachers when needed), I have a “sharpened” and “dull” bucket, I only refill the sharpened one at the 1st of the month. After that it is up to them.

I did see an idea on FB, that I have thought about using. Have a stash of nifty pencils (that kids ooh and ahh over). When someone doesn’t have one, ask the class who needs an “upgrade”? Pick a volunteer, take their pencil and give it to the student who doesn’t have one, and give one of your nifty pencils to the student that gave theirs up.

I, too, prefer Ticonderoga pencils…but I save those for end of year testing.

I like the idea of charging $0.25…just not sure if it would fly at my school.

By: Kristin

Kristin — Sat, 07 Jan 2017 15:04:30 +0000

I currently do take a pencil, leave a pencil and just replenish the supply as needed because sharpening was so frustrating . I am considering going to pens and am wondering if I would need to use erasable pens???? What type of pens do you have in your classroom (for those of you who use them). I teach fourth grade.

By: Jo-Sette Miller

Jo-Sette Miller — Fri, 30 Sep 2016 20:41:31 +0000

They only bring it home Friday’s .

By: Jo-Sette Miller

Jo-Sette Miller — Fri, 30 Sep 2016 20:40:11 +0000

As a parent, I found what works for my four boys, even my youngest who loses everything, is for them to bring their pencil box home. I am able to sharpen their pencil, check their supplies for broken crayons, dried out dry erase markers, and used up erasers.

By: Ashley Kwakernaak

Ashley Kwakernaak — Sat, 20 Aug 2016 23:51:29 +0000

In reply to Elizabeth allen. I did that my first year teaching and the VP had an issue with the student not wearing his shoe in 7th grade as it was a hazard if we had a fire drill, We actually sold pencils for a quarter with proceeds going to our school's foster child in Kenya. I also had a basket of pencils that were found on the floor for students who did not have 25c

By: Melanie Lawson

Melanie Lawson — Wed, 17 Aug 2016 02:36:23 +0000

In reply to Kate Papsun. I got this from a teacher, who found it on Pinterest. I give each student a pencil pouch just for pencils. They keep 8 pencils in it at all times. One of my Student jobs is to check each bag on Friday and sharpen the pencils that need it. If they have all 8 they get a treat. Sticker, piece of candy etc.